Like most 20-something millennials, I work a 9-6 job and make an average of $43,000 a year. I like nice things and love new experiences. After a tough work week, I often find myself checking out the latest deals on my favourite shopping websites (Think: ASOS, ZALORA, TAOBAO) or googling ‘best places to eat xxx’ for the tasty reward that I’ve been looking forward to the entire week.
Of course, turning to shopping and dining as a stress reliever can be an extremely costly combination, and I’m keenly aware that I SHOULD be saving more money during this pandemic – turbulent economy, increasing job losses…
Do you have any tips on how I can save money without cutting out my weekly shopping treat, or forgoing my favourite pastries from Tiong Bahru Bakery?
Guilty Millennial Who Is Trying To Save Money
As Singaporean millennials living on a tight disposable income, it seems almost impossible to save money while also having fun!
If you are looking for ways to save money with minimal disruption to your spending, a great money-saving method is to use Cashback Apps whenever you shop or dine!
Make Money When You Spend Money
Cashback apps let you ‘earn’ money even while you shop and spend, and can be well worth the effort since the rewards do add up – so why not be a savvy shopper and save on money you’re already spending!
With businesses scrambling to get new customers during this pandemic, many apps are also offering a chance to earn additional cash/credits through attractive referral programs!
Although these referral programs won’t make you a millionaire, they can help you make additional dollars and further reduce your bill, on top of the cashback that you’re already getting!
Read on below for the Top 5 Cashback Apps With Referral Programs that you can use to not only stretch your dollar, but also earn money by spreading the word!
1. Google Pay – Earn $3 Cashback Per Referral
How It Works: This digital payment solution makes receiving and spending money fast, simple and secure. You can use it for online payments, contactless payments in stores and even peer-to-peer money sending!
Its monetary perks include scratch cards and cashbacks that you can withdraw into your bank account, on top of existing credit card privileges!
So a few days ago, I transferred $180 through Google Pay to a friend, and was pleasantly surprised to receive a 3% cashback of $6!
As the app is still quite new, they’re pretty generous in giving away free money for completing certain actions (eg. earn up to $10 when you send or receive money from Google Pay users 3x a week)… so hurry on up and switch over to Google Pay while rewards are still aplenty!
Referral Program: You and your friend get $8 each after they sign up and make their first payment (minimum $10).
Referral Difficulty Score (1 – very easy, 10 – almost impossible): 4/10
With the $3 cashback and present monetary offers, it shouldn’t take too much effort convincing your money-savvy friends to jump on the bandwagon.
Refer 3 Friends And Get: $9 Cashback
2. ShopBack GO – Earn $5 Cashback Per Referral
How It Works: This one is for all you foodies and shopaholics. One of the pioneers in Singapore’s online rewards space, Shopback gives you cashback in the form of REAL money (withdraw via bank transfer), from more than 1,300 partner brands worldwide. Basically, you’ll get paid to shop or dine out!
Referral Program: You’ll both get $5 when your friend signs up using your referral code and spends $20.
Referral Difficulty Score: 4/10
If your friends aren’t convinced, give them a live demo to show JUST how hassle-free and money-saving it is to use Shopback.
Refer 3 Friends And Get: $15 Cashback
3.Shopee – $5 Credit (500 Shopee Coins) Per Referral
How It Works: A hybrid marketplace, Shopee gives you access to both small businesses as well as large brands.
When you shop on Shopee, you’ll earn Shopee Coins, which you can use to offset your purchases. For instant time-sensitive savings, head to their Daily Vouchers page, which is updated every midnight with the latest deals, promotions and cashbacks.
*From now till 31 Dec 2020, you’ll get 2% instant cashback (in the form of Shopee coins) when you make offline purchases with selected merchants using Shopeepay!
Referral Program: You’ll get 500 coins (worth $5) after your friend uses your code to sign up and make their 1st purchase on the Shopee app. Your friend gets $10 off their purchase.
Referral Difficulty Score: 5/10
With the $10 voucher, it should be pretty easy getting your friends to sign up and make a purchase with your code – Essentially, they get a free gift if they purchase an item worth $10 or lower!
Refer 3 friends And Get: $15 (1500 Shopee Coins)
4. Chope – 300 Chope-Dollars Per Referral
How It Works: Love eating out and exploring new restaurants? This is the perfect app for you! The Chope app features over 4,000 restaurants to help users discover places to eat, book instantly, and enjoy savings through specials and dining vouchers. Before you dine at a restaurant, simply find it on Chope and make a reservation – you’ll receive at least 100 Chope-Dollars for every completed booking!
Keep making reservations to earn more Chope-Dollars, which can be exchanged for ChopeDeals Discount Codes, lifestyle perks and more!
Referral Program: You and your friend will receive 300 Chope-Dollars once your friend fulfils their first reservation made via the Chope app or website.
Referral Difficulty Score: 5/10
With restaurants typically packed on Friday nights and weekends especially after the start of phase 3, we’ll need to make reservations in advance to secure a table. Chope’s reservations are quick and fuss-free, and you can simply get (or force) your friend to make the reservation for your next meetup!
Refer 3 friends And Get: 900 Chope-Dollars
5. Quandoo – $13.50 Per Referral
How It Works: This is a restaurant reservation app that rewards you in cold hard cash.
You’ll get 100 points for each reservation, and can earn 25 points by writing a restaurant review. When you accumulate 1000 points, you can redeem it for $15, which will be transferred directly to your bank account!
Referral Program: You and your friend will get 500 points ($7.50) when they create an account and fulfill their first reservation. If they use your promo code, they will get an additional 400 points. That’s a total of $13.50 for them!
Referral Difficulty Score: 5/10
$13.50 is a pretty good deal, and it shouldn’t take too much effort convincing your money-savvy friends to download the app. The only downside is that they don’t have as many restaurants on boarded as compared to Chope, so it’ll be a good idea to use both platforms.
Refer 3 friends And Get: $40.50
3 Refer-a-Friend Best Practices For More Savings
To successfully earn from Systematic Trading Profits by referral programs, you’ll need to cast a wide net. Other than bombarding your friends with your unique link, you can also post in related community groups and forums, or post a general status on your Social Media!
It’s also easier to sell the app if you can share how it has benefited you – show them screenshots or give them a live demonstration of just how value for money using the app can be!
Finally if the bonus goes two ways, let them know what’s in it for you, so that they can also earn from referring friends – just like how you did!
